Maya Jane Coles - Comfort

British DJ and producer Maya Jane Coles has been rising rapidly through the ranks of the UK House scene in the last few years, and for anyone who's taken even a passing interest in her promising career thus far, it hasn't been difficult to see why.

British DJ and producer Maya Jane Coles has been rising rapidly through the ranks of the UK House scene in the last few years, and for anyone who's taken even a passing interest in her promising career thus far, it hasn't been difficult to see why. A slew of high-profile remixes for acts like Gorillaz and Massive Attack has done her reputation no harm whatsoever - but it's her focus on sexy, low-slung grooves that's really asserted Coles as one of the most exciting young producers in the country recently.

Her breakthrough EP, What They Say, was made up entirely of club-ready deep-house beats; whilst 2011's Focus Now hinted at something much more integral to any sort of commercial success: a genuine understanding of melody. That said, even playlist-friendly numbers like 'Senseless' still had the DNA of house music running through them, albeit with vocals and a radio-friendly groove.

Coles' debut album, Comfort, should in theory then be an amalgamation of these two strands which have helped propel her into the spotlight to this point. Regrettably however, she has opted for a debut album which over-emphasises mood, and where guest vocalists are paid far too much reverence. The result is an album which ends up stuck awkwardly in the middle between club-friendly tracks and melody-driven house grooves.

Such an outcome is frustrating on several counts. Firstly, several of the guest vocalists' contributions tend to take centre stage over Coles' intimate productions - which too often appear to have been constructed around the vocals. 'Wait For You', featuring Tricky, is a perfect example; here, the Bristolian mumbles sweet little nothings over Cole's trip-hop beats - both of which sound rather like they've been phoned in on this occasion. 'When I'm In Love', which features Thomas Knights on vocals, is another example of collaboration gone wrong - sounding more like a Jamie Woon B-side than a track with Coles' muscle behind it.

The other frustrating aspect of Comfort is the fact that as a listener, it's hard to feel like you're getting much Maya Jane Coles-bang for your buck. Yes, tracks like 'Easier To Hide' and the truly brilliant title track are a glimpse into how far this promising young DJ has come, but a debut album should stand as an artists' mission statement, and a piece of work which they struggle to better for the rest of their career. Instead, Comfort feels like a disappointing album which is bloated with too many needless collaborations, and which gives us a frustratingly brief summary of Cole's progression as an artist to date.